Bench unveiled in honour of civic hero

Ben Corfield lost his life in a road traffic incident in November 2022.

The teenager was the former chair of the Dudley Youth Council and Dudley’s representative on the Youth Parliament.

The Mayor of Dudley today unveiled a bench in his honour in Coronation Gardens, Dudley, a year on from his tragic death.

Councillor Andrea Goddard, Mayor of Dudley, said:

What Ben managed to achieve in such a tragically short life is truly astounding and it is only right we honour him and his work with a bench in the shadow of the council house.

It was a real honour to be asked to do this today and I hope we can inspire other young people to help others in their communities. Ben was a real civic hero.

Ben also ran for the position of Dudley’s youth police crime commissioner, volunteered at the Black Country Wellbeing Centre and was an active Street Watch member.

His parents Damian and Lynette Corfield were also at the touching civic ceremony to pay tribute to their son, 12 months on from the tragedy.

Councillor Damian Corfield said:

We have lost a son and Dudley has lost an inspirational young person who spent his life helping others.

He went above and beyond in every aspect of his life which was cut way too short.

We hope this bench will allow his friends and family to quietly reflect on what Ben managed to achieve in his heartbreakingly short time with us.

The event was also attended by Ben’s family as well as former Mayors of Dudley.